Display rack



Nov. 28, 1933. c. SEAMAN DISPLAY RACK Filed July 6, 1932 INVENTOR eamanmm FEM:

TTORNEYS Cedric Patented Nov. 28, 1933 -DISPLAY RACK Cedric Seaman,Rye,N. Y., assignorito mafia... L

Service Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Application July6,1932.SerialNo. 621,015

ZCIaimS. (o1.211 1s4) This invention relates to improvements in displayracks particularly suited to counter-display of such things as wrappedloaves of bread, cake,

, and the like.

Among other objects, the invention is intended to supply a compact,inexpensive and simple construction of rack which will adequately holdthe merchandise to be displayed, while at the same time leaving exposed,in large degree, to enhance the display effect, the merchandise and itswrappings, and such trade-mark and advertising material as may beexhibited on the wrappings.

Furthermore, the invention contemplates a sectional or extensible racksuch that a plurality of rack-units may be readily coupled together toform a substantially integrated structure appropriate to whatever volumeof merchandise is desired to be displayed.

An illustrative embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanyingdrawing in which,

Fig. 1 is a perspective of a rack comprising two illustrative units, andV Fig. 2 is a detail section, on an enlarged scale, through the line 22of Fig. 1. 1

One of the rack units comprises a preferably narrow metal strip 3 bentin U-shape, anda corresponding similarly bent narrow strip 4. Thesestrips 3 and 4 are secured in spaced relationship by transverse bars 5,6, which may be spot-welded,

go brazed or otherwise secured to, the strips'3 and 4; and also bytransverse members 7, 8 similarly secured to the strips 3 and 4.

The dimensions and character of the metalstrips 3 and 4 are such thatthe vertically disposed or springy, in sufficient degree to avoid toogreat pressure upon soft bread or the like which may be forced betweenthe rack legs. Loaves of bread or the like, from the same batch, varyconsiderably in size, although intended to be of uniform dimensions; andthe flexibility of the rack legs permits loaves to be interposed betweenthe rack legs in whatever tight fit may occur, without material dangerof mutilating the loaves or their wrappers.

At the same time, when numerous loaves are closely packed between therack legs, the flexibility of the latter tends to hold the loavessecurely in position. At the same time, while the small cross-sectionsof the strips 3 and 4 contribute to their easy flexibility, the loavesand their wrappers are left exposed in very large degree so that thedisplay material thereon is readily observable both at the ends andsides of the loaves.

*When more than one rack-unit is employed (as legs of the U-shaped frameare relatively flexible presently described) the sides of loaves in thesecond unit are exposed eventhough the loaves in the second unit mayobscure thesides of the loaves in the first unit.

The above described U-shaped unit serves as a primary unit, in anextensible or sectional rack;

and 'a second and similar unit may be provided by strips 9 and 10 bentin an L-shape and secured together by transverse strips 11, 12 and 13.

The secondary unit comprising the strips 9 and 10 may be substantiallyintegrated with the primary unit comprising the strips '3, and 4. Asimple preferred means of doing this is shown in the drawing. Thetransverse strip 8 of the primary unit is formed with a horizontallyextending flange 14 which may be exactly like the flange 15 of the strip12 shown at the right-hand extremity of Fig. 1. struck up from itssurface, and before the assembly of the' two units is completed the lugs16 stand in the upright position indicated by the lugs 17, 17 on flange1 5. To receive the lugs 16, 16 (which are'part of theprimary unit), the

' transverse strip 13 (of the secondary unit) is provided with two slotssuch as are indicated (at The flange 14 has two lugs '16 a detached,hypothetical third unit similar to the second unit comprising the strips9 and 10. In assembling one unit with another, the slots are fitted uponthe upstanding lugs, and then, merely by atap of the hammer, each'lugmay be bent down to lock the two unitstogether.

Starting with a primary unit like that comprising the strips'3 and 4,additional units (like that comprising strips 9 and 10) may be added sofar as desired.

The same character of relative flexibility above referred to inheres inthe relationship between the vertical legs'ofthe strips19 and 10 and theadjacent vertical legs of strips 3 and 4.: Although the horizontal basesof the two, units may be secured rigidly together by the describedlugand-slot arrangement, nevertheless the'upstand ing legs at theopposite ends of the unit will be I relatively flexible for the purposesalready ex-, plained.

once two or more rack units have been secured together, they may bereadily detached fromgeach other by simply prying up the lugs 16, 16with a screw driver so that they resume the upstanding position of the1ugs 17, 17. Thereupon the slotted strip previously secured 'by the lugsmay be simply lifted off and the corresponding rack unit may be removed.I claim: I

horizontal base and to have upstanding legs flex ible in relation to thelegs of the primary unit, and having also transverse strips to securetogether the respective L-shaped strips; and detachable means forsecuring the primary unit sa i.-

rigidity V and the second unit together rigidity, while leaving theupstanding legs relatively flexible.

2. A display rack as, described in claim 1 in which the detachable meansfor securing the primary and second units together, are characwithsubstantial terized by having a horizontally disposed plate' secured toone unit, overlying a similarplate secured to the other unit,. one saidplate having bendable lugs projecting through slots in the othersaidplate and constructed to be bent down toward the latter plate to holdthe two plates and the respective units together with substantialCEDRIC. SEAMAN.

